London: British Navy insiders have described the latest multi-billion aircraft carriers as ‘white elephants with dinky toys on top’.
Chris Parry, former director of doctrine at the Ministry of Defence, said the two new six billion pounds aircraft carriers have been so stripped back they have less basic capabilities than Argentina’s navy during the Falklands War.
The ships’ planes lack facilities for mid-air refuelling, which is vital if they are to attack targets at long range or carry heavy bomb loads, the Telegraph reports.
Parry identified the shortcomings in an article in the Royal United Services Institute Journal quoted in the Sunday Times.
He argued that the ships are unable to fight full-scale sea battles and will need to remain close to shore in combat, the report added.
ANI
First Published: Monday, December 31, 2012, 13:58